Oneg Shabbat Guidelines

Thank you for volunteering to host and sponsor an oneg Shabbat. 

What to bring

You can decide what you would like to provide – be as creative as you would like.  Some of the recent menus have included: dried and fresh fruit, challah and jam, vegetables and dips.  Cakes, cookies and pastries (home made, from a store or from a bakery) are always well received.

Everything can be brought to the Templeright before services and placed downstairs in the kitchen.  You can also bring them to the Templeon Friday before 1:00 p.m., making sure they are labeled as being for theTemple’s oneg.

The following are items that you will need to bring:

  • challah for the kiddush
  • beverages, such as seltzer, juice and sodas
    milk or cream
  • 1 pound can of decaf coffee   (coffee is optional)
  • dish towels for clean-up

The Templeprovides sugar, sugar-substitute and very basic-quality plates, napkins, tablecloths and plastic utensils. If you would like something more festive, please feel free to substitute your own.

If you would like to have the food catered and delivered toTempleSinai, the office is open from 9:00am to 1:00pm on Fridays.  However, please notify the office in advance.

A few local bakeries include:

  • Blacker’s Bakeshop, Newton   617-332-2008
  • Cheryl Ann’s Bakery, Brookline   617-469-9241
  • New Paris Bakery, Brookline   617-566-0929
  • Rosenfeld’s, NewtonCentre   617-527-8080

Setting Up and Cleaning Up

Mario Calderon (our custodian/accommodator) will set up trays and put everything out for the oneg. If you are expecting a large group of attendees, it would be appreciated if you could help by arranging trays/platters of food ahead of time. Mario will also prepare hot tea, and put out plates and utensils.  If you provide a can of coffee (decaffeinated preferred) he will brew it and set it up on the beverage table in Ehrenfried Hall.

We keep some serving plates and utensils in the locked tan cabinet to the right of the kitchen entrance and in the glass-fronted cabinets to the left of the entrance. If you want or need something special or are expecting a large crowd, please bring extra serving items with you.  Please contact the temple office for the lock combination.

Please be sure to return the washed dishes to the cabinet after the oneg and reset the lock.

Please do not put food into the cabinets.

Mario will clean up afterwards (this does not include washing dishes.)

Help us to keep Temple Sinai green!  BecauseTempleSinaistrives to be as environmentally responsible as possible, we have adopted the following policies:

Dishes and cups

  • If you are going to wash and reuse dishes & cups, bring whatever utensils and dishes you would like
  • If you are not going to reuse them, please consider purchasing recyclable plastic, and be sure to put them into the recycling containers at the end of the evening
  • If you can’t get reusable/recyclable plastic, please buy paper instead because it biodegrades in the trash.

Paper goods   If possible, buy ones made from recycled or post-consumer materials
Plastic silverware:  These can also be washed and reused.
No styrofoam, please

Flowers

Families who are celebrating the bar or bat mitzvah of their child the following day generally order fresh flowers for the bimah.  The bimah flowers should be not more than 32″ high and should be delivered to the Temple by noon on Friday.  Please specify that no lilies be included in the arrangement, as the Cantor is allergic to them.  If you plan to donate flowers for the bimah and/or oneg table, you can use your own florist or call one of the following florists familiar withTempleSinai:

  • Albert’s ofBrookline   617-232-3353
  • Stephanie’s Flowers   617-469-4747

If you will be donating flowers and prefer not to order them on your own, theTempleoffice will be happy to order flowers on your behalf.  (Please call theTempleoffice at least one week prior to the event.)   The florist will send the bill directly to your home.  You can specify the colors or type of flowers you want in the arrangement.

Families sponsoring an oneg but not celebrating a bar/bat mitzvah the following day generally ask theTempleto display the silk flower arrangements usually on the bimah.

In conclusion….

There are generally 50-80 people attending services.  Some Erev Shabbat services are special occasions and more people may attend.  If you are hosting a bat/bar mitzvah oneg Shabbat for another family, it is best to ask that family how many people they are expecting to attend Friday night services and add that number to your count.  Please call the office the week prior to the service to get better estimate of attendance or if you have any questions.

Thank you!